HISTORICAL NOTES. 173 



luminous, and that when it had ceased to shine, 

 the light could be brought back again by rubbing 

 the hand over the board. 



In 1592, Fabricio d'Aquapendente brought for- 

 ward the first observation of phosphorescent flesh, 

 which Robert Boyle afterwards attempted so 

 energetically to explain. 



In 1602, Cascariolo discovered the famous 

 Bologna stone, in the manner already described. 



In 1663, Robert Boyle found that diamonds 

 possessed the properties of solar-phosphorus. 



In 1669, Brandt discoverd the chemical element 

 phosphorus, re-discovered by Kunckel in 1674, 

 and, according to some, by Robert Boyle in 1680. 

 Boyle's account of this new substance was indeed 

 only published in 1680. Some authors say that 

 he saw phosphorus in the hands of Kraft, and 

 knew that it was extracted from some matter 

 pertaining to the human body; others say that 

 Brandt had partially communicated his secret to 

 Kunckel. However this may be, the discovery, 

 after all, was made by Brandt. 



The remarkable light emitted by phosphorus 

 in the dark, known at present to be an effect of 

 oxidation, was supposed to be owing to combus- 

 tion ; and strange to say, this opinion, which was 

 not till long afterwards confirmed by direct ex- 

 periment, was the exact representation of the 

 phenomenon. 



